2016-17 Clover school calendar OK’d

The Clover School District 2016-17 calendar will include first semester ending before winter break following the board’s unanimous approval Monday night.

Bryan Dillon, district public information officer, presented the final revision of the calendar for second reading, saying the largest request from teachers was for exams to be before the break. He said at least two of the other three county districts are planning the same.

The only change since the first reading was spring break being pushed up a week to April 10-14 with a teacher work day April 17.

“We found this works best for staff,” he said, “and allows an extra day for travel time.”

Under state law, public schools can’t begin classes earlier than the third Monday in August. Clover schools will start Aug. 15 and end May 26. First semester will end Dec. 21. Second semester would start Jan. 4.

Dillon said first semester will run 86 days, while second semester is 94, which includes 5 days for final testing and 89 instructional days. State law requires students receive 180 instructional days each year but doesn’t specify how those days must be divided between semesters.

Winter break will run eight days Dec. 22-Jan. 3. Weather makeup days are Feb. 20, March 13 and April 17.

Graduation day also shifted from June 1 to May 25.

Dillon said last month, two days he had to consider creating the plan with other public information officers in the county was losing the leap year day, Feb. 29, this year and also the upcoming Election Day, Nov. 8.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 11:13 AM with the headline "2016-17 Clover school calendar OK’d."